BROTHERS’ NEST

Australia, 2018, 97 minutes, Colour.
Shane Jacobson, Clayton Jacobson, Kym Gyngell, Lynette Curran, Sarah Snook.
Directed by Clayton Jacobson.

Especially with the comedy film, Kenny, and, with other film and television appearances, Shane Jacobson is by now strongly associated with Australian comedy.

But, caution. Not here.

As the film opens, we see Shane Jacobson and his brother Clayton as obvious lookalike brothers, cycling outside the town to a used-car dump and to a house which belonged to their parents. They change into boiler suits, start cleaning the house, Terry (Shane) rather bemused his wary about following the lead of his older brother, Jeffrey (Clayton). Terry is rather laid-back but Jeffrey seems to be rather obsessive, sitting down with his brother early in the morning of their visit to the house with an extraordinarily detailed timetable for their activities for the day.

If this was a first review of Brothers’Nest? that someone were to read, the review should end here except to add that it is sometimes frightening, sometimes very black, some sardonic humour, and a bit of a shock film for the Jacobson brothers to be in.

But, many other reviews will indicate that the brothers have murder in mind and that this preoccupies them for most of the film. We learn their reasons, their deceptions, their alibis, their being upset at their father’s suicide, their love for their mother (Lynette Curran) who is dying of cancer, acknowledging that their mother’s new husband, Rodger (Kym Gyngell) loves their mother but has usurped the place of their father.

So, as the day goes on, the brothers realise that meticulously planned murders need to be more meticulous than they anticipated. So much can go wrong. So much is unforeseen.

When Rodger arrives at the house, there is an effective dramatic sequence when the brothers, especially Jeffrey, vent their angers on Rodger. There are also some tense dramatic sequences when their mother comes into the house and is bewildered by what she finds.

As has been suggested, to get away with murder, careful planning beyond careful is needed. And, who knows what the reactions will be if two people are part of the plan and begin to differ.

At the beginning of the film, the name of Sarah Snook appears in the opening credits. Just to reassure audiences who may be wondering when she is coming in, it is best to say that she comes in at the end, giving the audience an opportunity to think over what their reactions have been to the events, to the two brothers, to Rodger and the brothers’ mother, and see what has happened through her questioning eyes.

Of its kind, which may not appeal to gentler sensitivities, this story of murder in mind is intriguing and effective.

1. The title, the focus on the brothers, the house has a nest, the family nest?

2. The Jacobson brothers, acting together, the director? The other characters in the film, the nature of the characters, contrasts, bonds?

3. The Victorian countryside, at night, the men riding their bikes, going through the truck and car dump, coming to the house, the early-morning?

4. The background about the house, their mother dying with cancer, the father’s suicide and the reactions, their mother marrying Rodger, his abandoning wife and children in Queensland? His hobbies in the house, the radios? The brothers and their age?

5. The planning, to kill Rodger, wanting to inherit the house, revenge on Rodger? The alibi the going to Sydney, the phone calls to reinforce this? Their bags in the house? Spending all day in the house? The plan for Rodger in the evening, and the buyer coming to purchase the horse?

6. The introduction to each of the characters, Terry not wanting to be called Tes, hesitant, his decision, going into the house to help Jeffrey? Jeffrey as older, wearing glasses, dominating? His pad the timelines, Terry and the criticism? Military precision, watches, the father’s watch? Cleaning house, the preparation for the killing?

7. The plans, meticulous, the fact that meticulous plans can go wrong? The electricity, the lights, the radio?

8. The passing of the day, the two brothers together, reflecting, motivations? Their lives and relationships, the photos and videos on the phones?

9. Rodger’s arrival, his character, his treatment of the brothers when they were young, working with the radios and his neglect? Talking with Rodger, the accusations, his reactions? The physical attacks and brutality? Beating him, the collapse, gagging him and tying his hands, putting him in the bath, getting the radio, extending the cord, putting it into the bath, the electrocution?

10. The irony of their mother and the changed appointment, Are Sitting in the car, blowing the horn? Coming to the house, the lights and the fuses? Calling out for Rodger? Discovering his body? Her grief? Wanting to be with him?

11. Terry, the attempts to unbind Rodger? His mother seeing him, the puzzle, his lies and excuses?

12. Jeffrey, aggressive, with the gun, confronting the mother, the fears arguments, shooting?

13. Terry, his reaction, leaving the house, going to the trucks, Jeffrey coming, arguing, the gun, following, Terry having taken the bullets out? The fight, Jeffrey killed?

14. The buyer for the horse, her arrival, the truck, Terry helping her to load the horse? The discussions, the puzzlement as to what happened? Calling the police? Taking the horses?

15. The impact on the audience, the shock, the grisly aspects of the story?